150 wounded in the day of rage

 [ 16/03/2010 - 08:39 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) used rubber bullets and teargas on Tuesday to disperse Palestinian demonstrations protesting the opening of the ruins synagogue near the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem wounding 150 citizens.

Medical sources told the PIC reporter that 50 of the injured were hospitalized for treatment of bullet wounds while 100 received field treatment for breathing difficulties.

They said that IOF troops blocked entry of medical teams to the Old City of Jerusalem, adding that a Palestinian journalist was seriously hit with a bullet that penetrated his body in Aisawiye northeast of Jerusalem.

Palestinians in J’lem create human cordon around Al-Aqsa Mosque

[ 16/03/2010 - 03:55 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Spokesman for the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands Zahi Anjidat said that the Palestinians of the holy city and the occupied lands managed on Tuesday morning to create a human cordon protecting the Aqsa Mosque.

The spokesman affirmed that a large number of Palestinian men and women from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands were able to create a human shield around the Aqsa Mosque in order to protect it from any possible Israeli break-in.

He pointed out that extremist Jewish groups declared their intention to storm the courtyards of the Aqsa Mosque following the opening ceremony of the ruin synagogue in order to initiate another ceremony for the building of the alleged temple of Solomon.

In the same context, violent clashes broke out Tuesday morning in different Jerusalem areas especially in the vicinity of the Old City and the Aqsa Mosque, while the Israeli occupation forces are still besieging the holy city for the fourth consecutive day and prevent thousands of Palestinians from reaching the holy Mosque.

29 Palestinian young men were reportedly wounded during the clashes, four of them were taken prisoners among many others.

The IOF troops used batons and tear gas and flashbang grenades as well as mounted policemen and dogs to suppress the Palestinian protesters.

Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib, the deputy head of the Islamic Movement in occupied lands, and Sheikh Ali Abu Sheikha, a senior Islamic Movement official were among those who were physically assaulted.

In light of the Israeli restrictions imposed on the entry of men into the Aqsa Mosque, dozens of Palestinian women were able to enter it as they were chanting slogans in response to the voices of Israeli settlers who gathered in Al-Buraq plaza in preparation for launching a sudden attack on the holy Mosque.

Palestinian Intifada breaks out throughout Occupierd Jerusalem

[ 16/03/2010 - 09:59 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

A Palestinian Intifada (uprising) has broken out in different areas of occupied Jerusalem Tuesday morning in response to the calls for participating in the day of anger in protest at the serious Israeli violations against Islamic holy sites in Palestine.

The clashes started to break out when Israeli troops attacked Palestinian worshipers after they finished their dawn prayers in the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque today especially near Al-Asbat Gate, in Al-Issawiya area and Su’fat.

Al-Quds media center reported that soon after the Palestinians finished their prayers, a large number of Israeli troops encircled them and embarked on beating them with batons and firing stun grenades.

It also said that clashes took place afterwards in different areas of Jerusalem during which Palestinian young men torched tires and threw stones at Israeli troops and policemen.

For his part, deputy head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands Kamal Al-Khatib told Al-Jazeera satellite channel on Tuesday morning that there were many casualties among Palestinian young men during the clashes that have broken out since the early morning hours in different areas of Jerusalem.

Khatib said that the Israeli police used batons and tear gas grenades to attack the young men, adding that the IOF troops also prevented dozens of buses carrying Palestinians from reaching the Aqsa Mosque.

In an earlier incident, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday afternoon stormed Al-Issawiya area in Jerusalem and clashed with Palestinian protesters who used stones and empty bottles to defend themselves against the troops’ attack.

Local sources told the reporter of the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the clashes broke out in the old city of Jerusalem and in the areas of Attour, Issawiya, Ras Al-Amud and Salahuddin.

They added that large numbers of Israeli soldiers were deployed on Salahuddin street near Al-Sahira Gate after young men attacked an Israeli police station in the area and showered it with a barrage of stones and empty bottles.

Eyewitnesses also said that an Israeli military helicopter was seen flying together with a surveillance balloon, that was launched two days ago over Jerusalem to watch citizens and provide more protection for Israeli settlers.

These confrontations happened only few hours before the Israeli opening of what is called the ruin synagogue near the Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday. Jewish extremist groups’ declared intention to attack the Aqsa Mosque on this day also provoked a state of anger among the Palestinians.

In another related incident, 10 Palestinian students from Bir Zeit university were wounded on Monday when IOF troops opened fire on their march near the Atara military checkpoint, north of Ramallah city.

The students started their march from the university campus to protest against the Israeli escalating steps to Judaize Jerusalem and the opening of the ruin synagogue and headed toward the checkpoint where the Israeli troops fired live and rubber bullets at them.

U.S. envoy George Mitchell cancels his visit to Israel amidst U.S-Israeli diplomatic crisis

Tuesday March 16, 2010 16:40 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

The U.S Embassy in Tel Aviv informed Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. special peace envoy George Mitchell had cancel his visit to the region.

Mitchell was planning to meet Israeli officials to get their response about the government policy on the issue of settlements. Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that settlement construction will continue in Jerusalem.

Political analysts say the trip was canceled due to growing anger by the Obama administration on Israeli continued settlement construction in East Jerusalem.

The crises began last week when Israel announced 50, 000 news settlers homes to built in East Jerusalem.

The new settlement construction announcement came during a visit by the U.S vice president, Joe Biden, to the region last week in an attempt to wrap up the latest diplomatic efforts to jumpstart stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

The Palestinian Authority reaffirmed its position that there will be no direct or indirect talks with Israel as long as settlement construction continues.

Currently, there are 500,000 Israeli settlers living in West Bank settlements, with 20,000 of those living in Jerusalem settlements. Under international law all Israeli settlements in the West Bank including Jerusalem are illegal.

38 Injured At Least 20 Detained As Police Crackdown On Palestinian Protesters

Tuesday March 16, 2010 15:46 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

At least 38 Palestinians civilians were injured by Israeli police fire on Tuesday during the ongoing clashes in East Jerusalem.

Palestinian Youth hurling stones towards Israeli troops at the Qalndiya military checkpoint – photo by WAFA March. 16th 2010

Palestinian medical sources reported that most of those injured in Jerusalem today were hit with rubber-coated-steel bullets. Troops also used tear gas and sound bombs to suppress the protests today.

The clashes took place after fundamental settler groups opened on Monday a synagogue near the Al Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem. Tension was high in Jerusalem as Israeli announced 50, 000 settlers’ homes in the city last week.

Last Friday Israeli announced a lockdown around the West Bank and Jerusalem; which means closing the city of Jerusalem in front of the few Palestinians from the West Bank who has permission to enter it.

At Jerusalem’s old city police stopped all Palestinians under the age of 50 from entering the old city.

The Clashes today were consternated at Al Essawyiah, a Palestinian town near Jerusalem’s old city. Clashes took place all over the city early on Tuesday morning.

At Tuesday midday, clashes intensified at the Qalndiya military checkpoint separating the central West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem. Local sources reported two injuries.

Nine Wounded in Jerusalem clashes, Four Kidnapped

Tuesday March 16, 2010 11:17 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Clashes were reported on Tuesday morning in several parts of East Jerusalem’s Old City and its surrounding neighborhoods as the Israeli police attacked the areas in question after the residents held a strike to protest Israel’s violations and settlement activities in the city.

At least nine residents were wounded as the army used excessive forces against the protestors.

The clashes took place after fundamental settler groups started the construction of a synagogue near the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem.

They were concentrated in the Shu’fat refugee camp, Wad Al-Joz, Al-Esawiyya, Silwan and several neighborhoods in the Old City especially in Hatta, Al-Sa’diyya and Al-Wad neighborhoods. The three neighborhoods are physically attached to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Dozens of residents hurled stones at Israeli soldiers stationed at a roadblock at the entrance of the Shu’fat refugee camp, north of Jerusalem.

Army sources reported that the residents hurled stones and empty bottles at soldiers manning the roadblock, and that enforcements were called to the scene.

The soldiers and policemen fired gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber –coated bullets at the residents, and also fired rounds of live ammunition into the air.

Two youths, who were passing through the area, were kidnapped.

Clashes also took place in several parts of the Old City, especially in Wad Al-Jouz while the police chased dozens of residents.

The police also used excessive force against protestors at Al-Nather Gate, one of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Local youth also hurled Molotov cocktails at illegal settlements outposts, in the Old City; no injuries were reported.

Clashes also took place in Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, while the police fired live rounds and rubber-coated at school children. Troops kidnapped a 15-year-old child and took him to a local interrogation center.

An Israeli police spokesperson reported that two policemen were mildly wounded in the Old City.

The police earlier kidnapped Eyad Al-Taweel, 12, and took him, along with his two aunts, to an interrogation center; the police also kidnapped three youths.

Israel imposed a strict siege on the Old city, especially the gates of the Al-Aqsa mosque, and prevented the residents, including dozens of senior women, from entering in.

Israeli security sources reported that clashes also took place in Asoufia village, in the Galilee.

The police kidnapped a 39-year-old man from the Majd Al-Kroum town, north of the country, after claiming that he attacked a police officer.

The was in a bus heading to Jerusalem; while the police claimed that the residents boarded the bus were heading to Jerusalem to participate in the clashes.

The police also installed dozens of roadblocks at the entrances of Arab towns in the country and ordered the inspection of all Arab vehicles.

Roadblocks were installed in Acre, Safad, several junctions in the Galilee and around Jerusalem after claiming that hundreds of residents from the country are trying to reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Palestinian factions stationed in Syria called on the Palestinians and their factions in Palestine to counter the Israeli violations by all means and to protect the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Khalid Masha'al, head of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, called on the Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, to stop all talks with Israel.